Original melodies by kids sought from across New Mexico

Sun-News report

Posted:
12/06/2012 12:09:18 PM MST

ALBUQUERQUE — Hey, Mozart! New Mexico's sixth child composer project is once again seeking original melodies composed by pre-teens for voice or instrument. The statewide project invites New Mexico children born on or after April 30, 2000, to submit one or more original melodies to the project postmarked no later than April 30, 2013.

The submission may be in music notation or by simply providing a CD recording of the child performing the work. Applications will be available in December on the project's website.

The project focuses on the creativity of the composer, not his or her technical performance skills. It recognizes and encourages the creative impulses of children making music. Melodies selected for the project are arranged by accomplished artists for professional performance groups. The final concert is traditionally at the National Hispanic Cultural Center's Journal Theatre.

At the last child composer project in 2011 some 225 melodies were submitted from all over the state. The 16 finalists plus one master class composer collaboration with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program performed their melodies after which the orchestrated versions were performed by Chatter, the UNM Symphonic Band or the Dolce Suono Chorus.

Immediately after the deadline for the project, a selection committee of professional musicians will review the submissions and choose which will be orchestrated. The selected composers will be announced in May 2013.

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Then the melodies will be distributed to New Mexico musicians from different parts of the state, including university students, for orchestration.

The Hey, Mozart! New Mexico preteen composers have performed not only at the projects free community concert in Albuquerque, but also in concerts around the state.

Dr. Karl Hinterbichler of the University of New Mexico faculty is the Music Director and will oversee the selection of the melodies and the arrangements of them.